With skillful hands, a rich imagination, and a passion for wood carving, Mr. Le Hoan Anh Kiet ( Phu Tho Ward, Thu Dau Mot City) has, over 30 years of dedication to the craft, breathed life into thousands of pieces of wood to create high-quality, artistic works.
Driven by his passion, Mr. Le Hoan Anh Kiet has pursued the art of wood carving for over 30 years.
We arrived at Mr. Kiet's house in the late afternoon, when he was diligently carving on a block of wood. Although only the initial outlines were formed, it wasn't difficult to recognize that he was sculpting the figure of Maitreya Buddha sitting under a Bodhi tree. Perhaps because he was born and raised in Phu Tho, a 200-year-old wood carving village famous in Binh Duong, Mr. Kiet has had a strong passion for carving since childhood. However, he is the only one in his family who has pursued this craft.
Mr. Kiet shared that because he loved wood carving, he started learning the craft at the age of 14. After 5 years of apprenticeship, he applied to work at a private carpentry workshop, learning practical skills and knowledge while working. Combining the exquisite techniques passed down from his predecessors with his own research and exploration, he later opened his own wood carving workshop, which produced many unique and aesthetically pleasing wood carvings. Currently, the works produced by his wood carving workshop are highly praised by visitors and buyers.
Mr. Kiet shared that when learning the craft of wood carving, in addition to basic techniques, the craftsman must know how to shape and sketch the large lines as well as the small details on each piece. The process of creating a wood carving involves many stages, such as shaping, cutting and shaping the wood, chiseling, sanding, painting, etc.; among which the wood cutting and shaping stage is the most important. Depending on the shape of the wood, he advises customers on what shape to carve to suit their needs.
Most of Mr. Kiet's works are created from dried tree roots and stumps such as cypress, rosewood, red sandalwood, ironwood, and Dalbergia tonkinensis... From these initial raw materials, which many consider worthless and only suitable for firewood, Mr. Kiet's skillful hands transform them into works of art with "soul." He has created unique differences in each piece. Mr. Kiet confided that, although it is also woodworking, wood carving requires more skill, creativity, and an artistic "eye." Even with the same size and shape, the "spirit" and "soul" of each work are distinct. The difficulty in transforming tree stumps and trunks into artistic wooden works lies in the lack of pre-made blueprints. Therefore, the craftsman must create products based on the shape, color, knots, and holes in each piece of wood, thereby creating vivid details. Artistic wood carvings feature familiar images such as the Four Sacred Animals, the Twelve Zodiac Animals, Buddha statues, statues of Happiness, Prosperity, and Longevity, and table tops depicting the Four Seasons.
Many people often think that wood carving is a difficult profession to pursue, but it's easy for those with passion. I myself am dedicated to this craft because of my passion and willingness to learn. I also hope to pass on this skill to future generations, especially those with dedication, passion, and talent, so that this craft does not fade away or become lost.” (Mr. Le Hoan Anh Kiet) |
Mr. Kiet has been involved in wood carving for over 30 years. Currently, he earns an average of 180-200 million VND per year from this profession. Mr. Kiet says that to stay in this profession for the long term, one must have a sincere heart and passion for the craft. When customers bring wood to him for carving or orders, he must advise them to create a suitable and valuable product without losing the natural characteristics of the tree trunk and roots. Customers often don't understand much about the technical aspects of wood carving, so they find it difficult to choose specific shapes. Each completed work goes through many stages, requiring the craftsman to be creative, careful, and meticulous in every carving detail. Each piece is like a spiritual child to him. For example, a Maitreya Buddha statue takes him 20 days or more to complete before delivering it to the customer.
Mr. Kiet further shared that most stages of wood carving are done manually. Therefore, the selection of wood must be meticulous, ensuring it is not warped, is flexible and durable, does not crack when dry, and is not susceptible to termites or woodworms. In addition, the craftsman must possess skill to ensure the carving strokes are sharp, and the shape and details of the carving are vivid and lifelike. The challenge in decorative carving is that the artwork must have a "soul," and the Buddha's countenance must convey serenity and joy. Looking at the same Buddha statue, viewers should feel a sense of solemnity yet compassion, gentleness yet firmness against evil and wickedness.
THOAI PHUONG - HAI DUONG
Source: https://baobinhduong.vn/nghe-dieu-khac-go-can-niem-dam-me-yeu-nghe-a336539.html
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